Around the world.

Ambassador Yanked After Rebel Addresses Venezuela Legislators

November 26, 2000|By From Tribune News Services.

BOGOTA, COLOMBIA — Colombia has recalled its ambassador to Venezuela "for consultation." Friday's move came two days after a Colombian guerrilla leader gave a speech on the floor of Venezuela's National Assembly.

The decision reflects rising friction between the two Andean countries over Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez's alleged sympathy for Colombian insurgents and his criticism of Plan Colombia, a U.S.-backed anti-drug program being carried out by Colombian President Andres Pastrana.

Colombia's Foreign Ministry said it was recalling Ambassador German Bula in order to "evaluate the current state of relations between the two countries."

The left-leaning Chavez has said Pastrana's plan, backed by $1.3 billion in mostly military assistance from the United States, will drive refugees, guerrillas and drug traffickers into his and other neighboring countries.

On Wednesday, Olga Marin, a spokeswoman for the leftist Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, addressed a daylong forum about Plan Colombia held on the floor of Venezuela's National Assembly.

The forum was part of a meeting of a Latin America-wide parliamentary group. It was not an official session of Venezuela's legislature.

Chavez maintains he is neutral in Colombia's fighting, although a former intelligence chief accused him this year of funneling arms to the FARC.

On Friday, a senior FARC commander rejected allegations by Mexico's attorney general that the rebels traded cocaine to a powerful Mexican drug cartel in return for cash and weapons.